Universal joint



Aug. 7, 1934.

T. BARISH UNIVERSAL JOINT Filed Dec.

2 Sheets-Sheety l INVEyl/Ml'. w

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 www. J uw@ Aug. 7, 1934. T. BARlsH UNIVERSAL JOINTFiled Deo. 19. 1931 /P' BY l AT ORNEY. K

lil

llfl

bil

"i tiene @to :origini UNIVERSAL JOINT Thomas Barish, janiestown, N. lil.Application December i9, i931, Serial No.. 582,063

2d Claims.

lilly invention relates to improvements in universal joints forautomotive vehicles; and the objects of my improvements are, rst, toprovide a universal joint .incorporating coupling members havingstraight faces for engaging roller me1nbers; second, to provide auniversal joint having driving and driven members capable of axialmovement relative to one another; third, to provide a universal jointhaving arial movement of its driving and driven members without employaing splined members; fourth, to provide a universal joint having afloating holder unit for containing roller members; fifth, to provide auniversal joint employing a roller holding unit having spherical sealingsurfaces; sixth, to provide a universal joint mechanism incorporatingresilient members for positioning a roller holding member therein;seventh, to provide a universal joint mechanism having a rollerenclosing membeinl enclosing resiliently actuated enclosing meinnl bers;eighth, to provide a universal joint mecha nisrn having oppositei'ydisposed Ispherical mem bers enclosed by a. floating roller enclosingmechn anisin; and, ninth, to provide a universal joint mechanism havingdriving and driven members enclosed by members permitting relative axialand angular movement of the driving and driven members.

l attain these objects by the mechanism illus trated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which--n llligure l is a vertical sectional view along thelongitudinal aris of the shafts connected by the universal jointassembly, the shafts being located on a common axial line; Fig. 2, avertical section j oi the universal joint assembly taken along thebrolren line, 2-2, Fig. `l; Fig. 3, a vertical sectional view of theuniversal joint assembly with the connected shafts located at an anglewith one another; Fig. 4, a vertical sectional View of the universaljoint assembly when used without enclosing means Fig. 5, a partialsectional view taken on the line -5, Fig. 2; and Fig. 6, a partial sideelevation of one of the roller retaining inema bers.

Similar' numerals refer throughout the several Views.

The shaft" l is provided with the coupling or coacting or segmentalportions 2, and the shaft 4 is provided with the coupling or co-actingor segmental portions 5. The coupling portions 2, if desired, may beformed integrally with the shaft l and the coupling portions 5, ifdesired, may be formed integrally with the shaft i.

The coupling portions 2 of the shaft l and the coupling portions 5 ofthe shaft 4 are each provided with inclined or radial surfaces 7 whichto similar parts 'engage the roller members 8. It is to be noted thatthe inclined surfaces 'l are formed with straight surfaces which inclineor converge ap-u proximately toward the center of the universal (Cl.G11-91) joint assembly, the inclined surfaces "i hitting tapered sidesof the roller members t. The roller members 8 are supported in theholder assembly A which is a separate oating unit unrestrained withrespect to the universal joint members err cept by contact therewiththrough the medium of the rollers 8 which thereby tend to alwaysmaintain the rollers 8 in their proper radial positions relative to thecenter of the universel joint mechanism.

The holder assembly il comprises the retainer members 9 and 10 which maybe fastened together by the rivets 11. The retainer members 9 and 10 areeach provided with offset portions l2 which partially enclose each ofthe rollers il, the offset portions 12 being fitted around. the rollerst so that the rollers 8 will be retained therewithin with suicientclearance so that the rollers 8 will rollably contact with the inclinedsurfaces l, the offset portions 1 2 being only of sumcient width so asto avoid contact with the inclined surfaces 'l and at the same timeretain the rollers 8 by erm tending radially around the rollersthroughout a portion of their circumference, as disclosed in Fig. 5.'flic retainer members 9 and lo may be each further provided with theodset portions E" at their central portions to provide greater rigidity.

The retainer members 9 and l0 are further pion vided with the peripheralflange portions i3 which 90 are fastened together and to the flanges ifiof the housing members 15 and lo, the danges i3 and la being fastenedtogether by the rivets l'l.

It is to be noted that the holder assembly il will maintain therollersin their proper operative positions, the rollers 8 being maintained intheir proper contactual position relative to the inclined surfaces ofthe coupling portions 2 and 5 and. relative to the axial centers of theshafts l and Al, and at the same time the holder assembly fi is l freeto assume a position of angularity approxi-n mately one half as large asthe total singularity assumed by the shafts 1 and 4 when operating inother than a straight line or around a common axial center. Fig. 3discloses such a position of the holder assembly A, the shafts l and aloperating at an angle with one another. lt is to be further noted thatthe retainer members 9 and l0 are each provided with the openings 18through which extend the coupling portions 2 and 5, the openings 18being suiciently larger than said coupling portions extendingtherethrough so as to permit the holder assembly A to maintain angularpositions relative to said coupling portions as disclosed in Fig. 3.

Each of the shafts l and ti are provided with a retainer member i9 whichencloses the shaft with which it is associated. The retainer memn bers19 are each provided with a packing inember 2l which is compressedagainst the retainer ill dit.

member 19 by the plate 22 which is always .forced against the packingmaterial 21 by the springs 23. Each of the coupling portions 2 and 5 areprovided with a hole 24 in which is seated the spring 23. It is to benoted that each of the plates 22 may be actuated by three springs 23, aseach of the shafts l and 4 are provided with three coupling portions asmore fully disclosed by dotted lines relative to one of the shafts 4 inFig. 2.

It is to be noted that the plates 22 and the retainer members 19, willeach be provided with central openings through which the shafts l and 4extend with clearance therearound while the packing material 21 will ttightly around the shafts l and 4 to exclude dirt and foreign matterfrom the inside of the universal joint assembly and to retain lubricantwithin the universal joint assembly. Each of the retainer members 19 arefurther formed to provide a spherical surface 25 on which slidably movesthe packing material 26 which extends circumferentially around thespherical surface 25, the packing material 26 being retained by theoffset portions 27 of the retainer members l5 and .1.6. The housingmembers 15 and 16 are formed to provide the spherical surfaces 28 whichare thus adapted to enclose and move adjacent the spherical surfaces 25of the retainer members 19 when the universal joint assembly assumes anangular position as disclosed in Fig. 3.

It is to be noted that the holder assembly A, as disclosed in Fig. 3,will be further maintained in its proper operative position relative tothe retainer members 19 by the packing material 26 contacting with thespherical surface 25, the holder assembly A being adapted to oscillaterelative to its retainer members 19, when the untversal joint assemblyis operating at an angle as disclosed in Fig. 3. It is to be noted thatthe spherical surfaces 25 of the retainer members 19 .will becontinually forced against the packing material 26 by the springs 23,thus further providing dirt and foreign material excluding means as wellas means for further retaining lubricant within the universal jointassembly at all times.

It is to be understood that my universal joint mechanism may be utilizedfor transmitting power through angles approximately of a maximum o 40degrees, the holder assembly A constituting a floating unit around theshafts 1 and 4 and thus rendering possible this maximum degree ofangular movement relative to one another.

1t is also to be noted that the springs 23 will not only maintain thepacking materials 26 in close contact with the spherical surfaces 25 butwill also maintain the holder assembly A with its roller members 8approximately at its central position between the coupling portions ofthe shafts 1 and 4.

'It is also to be further noted that the use of the tapered rollermembers 8 contacting with and rolling on the straight surfaces 'Z' oi"the coupling members will permit the shafts 1 and i to have perfectlyfree longitudinal axialmovement within the universal joint assemblies,thus eliminating the necessity of providing the shafts l and withsliding splined connections to their driving or driven members (notshown), thus further permitting a, considerable saving in themanufacture of universal joint assemblies. When the shafts l and 1 thusmove in a longitudinal or axial direction, the rollers 8 will only moveone half ci the longitudinal distance by which the shafts 1 and iseparate or move together.

Also whereas only six roller membersA 8 are escasas disclosed, myinvention will be readily adapted to accommodate any desired number ofrollers, as for instance. four, eight, ten, twelve. or more, thenumberdepending on the particular design and the amount oi' power to betransmitted.

It is further to be noted that niy invention will transmit poweruniformly regardless of the angle between the connecting shafts 1 and 4.thus eliminating periodic fluctuations with the usual type of universaljoint. Also because of the length of the roller members 8, my inventionprovides means for transmitting greater torque capacity in installationswhere a limited space is provided for the operation of the universaljoints. When it is desired to use my universal joint assembly withoutany enclosing housing, in order to accomplish further simplicity oreconomy, the retainer members 9 and l0 may be fastened, at theirperipheries, to cach other by the rivets 31 as disclosed in Fig. 4, theretainer members 9 and 10 being respectively provided with the bosses 32for locating the springs 33 which are here retained in the holes 3 whichare formed on the inner or front portions of the coupling members 2 and5 instead of their rear portions as disclosed in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, eachof the retainer members 10 and 9 being actuated to their centralposition by one spring 33 retained in each pair of coupling membersformed integrally with each of the shafts 1 and 4. Each of the couplingportions 2 and 5 may be provided with the angular surfaces 35 and 36 toprovide necessary clearances between the coupling portions 2 and 5 andwithin the holder assembly A when the shafts 1 and s are operating inangular positions relative to one another.

It is also to be understood that my invention may be used with shaftmembers incorporating splined portions when desired.

I claim:

i. lin a universal joint, the combination oi a pair of members capableof relative angular displacement, each of said pair of members beingprovided with a plurality of flat working surfaces convergingapproximately toward a common center, a pair of retainer membersprovided with oppositely disposed offset portions forming partialenclosures extending between the fiat working surfaces of said pair ofmembers, said retainer member being provided with a pair of flangeportions extending around said pair of members, spherical memberssuitably attached to the flange portion of said retainer member,spherical members adjacent said rst mentioned spher ical members,packing material between said rst mentioned and said second mentionedspherical members, packing material between each of said rst mentionedpair of members and one of said last mentioned spherical members, meansfor maintaining pressure on said rst mentioned packing material, andmovable members between the flat working surfaces of said firstmentioned members, each of said movable members being retained in one ofthe partial enclosures of said retainer member.

2. In a universal joint, the combination of a pair of members eachprovided with a plurality of segment portions, each of said segmentportions being further provided with nat surfaces convergingapproximately toward a common center, members suitably supported betweenthe segment portions of said first mentioned members, said lastmentioned members engaging the fiat surfaces of the segment portions ofsaid first mentioned members, and means for retaining said lastmentioned members in their operative positions, said means beingprovided with housing portions extending longitudinally adjacent thelongitudinal sides of said last mentioned members.

3. In a universal joint, the combination of a pair of members, eachprovided with a plurality of segment portions, said pair of membersbeing further provided with flat approximately radial surfaces extendingcompletely along their segment portions, members rollably engaging the'fiat radial surface of said members, and means for retaining said lastmentioned members in their operative positions, said last mentionedmeansbeing provided with a plurality of openings therethrough, each of saidopenings surrounding one of said segment portions.

4. In a universal joint, the combination of a pair of members capable ofrelative angular displacement, said members being provided with coactingportions having ilat approximately radial faces, members movably mountedbetween the coacting portions of said members to permit forces to betransmitted from one co-acting portion to the other, and means forretaining said second mentioned means to prevent relative displacementthereof in a radial, plane, said last mentioned means being movablymounted relative to said first mentioned members, said last mentionedmeans being provided with openings to permit said co-acting portions tomovably extend therethrough.

5. In a universal joint, the combination of a pair of members capable ofrelative angular dis-l placement, said members having co-acting pontions with flat approximately radial faces, conical members spacing theco-acting portions of said first mentioned members, said conical membersrollably engagingthe vfiat approximately radial surfaces of theco-acting portions of said members, and movably mounted means forretaining said conical members, said movably mounted means beingprovided with transversely extendn ing openings for receiving saidco-acting portions therethrough, said movably mounted rneans beingfurther provided with openings extending transversely to said surfacesof the co-acting portions engaged by said conical members.

6. In a universal joint, the combination of a pair of members havingco-acting portions, roller members between the co-acting portions ofsaid pair of members, and a retaining member for said roller members,said retaining member being provided with portions oppositely disposedabout each of said roller members, said portions being provided withside walls conforming to the shape of said roller members, saidretaining member being further provided with a flange portion ex tendingradially inwardly and outwardly from its rst mentioned portions.

7. In a universal joint, the combination of a pair of members havingco-acting portions, rollers each engaging a co-acting portion of each ofsaid pair of .members spherical members oppositely disposed about saidpair oi! members, packing means engaging said spherical members,resilient means between said pair of members and said packing means andretaining means for said rollers, said retaining means being providedwith spherical portions extending adjacent said spherical members.

8. In a universal joint, the combination o! a pair of members havingco-acting portions, roller members each contacting co-acting portions ofeach of said pair of members, a pair of members partially enclosing saidroller. members, Asaid last mentioned pair of members being providedwith tions, and means for fastening said last men` tioned pair ofmembers together. l

9, In a universal joint, the combination or a pair of members fortransmitting power,a plurality of roller members between said firstmentioned pair of members, and means for retaining said roller members,said means being provided with portions enclosing each of said rollermembers, said portions having oppositely disposed openings with surfacestherebetween for engaging said roller members, said oppositely disposedopenings allowing said roller members to extend laterally therethroughfor engagement with said rst mentioned pair of members.

10. In a universal joint. the combination of a pair of powertransmitting members provided with co-acting portions, said powertransmitting members being adapted to move axially relative to oneanother, rollably mounted members mounted between and engaging theco-acting portions of said power transmitting members, means forretaining said rollably mounted members in spaced radial positions, saidlast mentioned means being maintained, by contact with said reliablymounted members, in a position in which its axis bisects an anglebetween the axis of said power transmitting members, and resilient meanspositioning said first mentioned means longitudinally of said powertransmitting members.

ll. in a universal joint, the combination of a pair oi members providedwith co-acting portions, movable members between the co-acting portionsof said members, means for retaining' said members, means for retainingsaid movable members in their operative positions, said means includinga pair of members secured together to :form a housing around saidmovable members, each of said members being provided with pop tionsextending around each of said co-acting portions, a pair of memberssecured to said means, each of said pair of members being pro vided witha spherical surface, members adjacent each of said pair of members,.each of said last mentioned pair of members being provided with aspherical surface, and packing means between the spherical surfaces ofsaid pair of members and the spherical surfaces oi said last mentionedmembers.

l2. In a universal joint, the combination of a pair of shaft membersprovided with co-acting portions, said shaft members being adapted tomove axially to one another, rollable members each contacting one ofsaid co-acting portions or each of said shaft members, and retainer.means partially enclosing said rollable members to allow said rollablemembers to project therefrom to contact said zo-acting portions of saidshafts, said retainer means being adapted to oscillate relative to saidshaft members.

13. In a universal joint, the combination of means for said taperedrollers, said retaining means enclosing said tapered rollers throughoutg sweet i oltious, es eetween seid sweetie perm ons, and eteiner meansfol said tapete@ lolle` membes, said etaiF-ei` means 'oe' with tapered Ltending longitudinally mound saicl tepereo; members.

lo said sete nete/*ee il el iillate eletive means if sale (y. De;

wing el Seid; drive' retaining ineens enclos i. sliet l roller embers7and members mounted ou means and provided with seliefa suitably mountedaround said driv driven members to allow angulal ierebetsfeee, saidspherical portions :colleele members ea-on e'igegimg eo-eetiug por seid'etaiiiA tions of each of seid memioes, emi e :teical portion teiniugmeans for seid olleole memoei's l ing and. s iretaizoing means beingpovioet with wel, movement tions extending entiely around of seis, eo-I1g portions, eaoli o the potlozis of said {.ist mentioned well portiesten eoeeti e tr ou vecsely ieleytive to alle W open' JTs eoeo driv en'me-:obers to allow axial moven "veise joint, the combination o lieto ofseid pair of me embei' for seid second *retainer i'oe'rrlbei1 b portionshaving oloetuies of said apeituies surrounding one m11 V l emoexs u`ving oo ating e meeting 'no ietf` ming tege met" bets suito'elyseoureo.

- e uversal jeM A shaft members cent said joai of she,"L

sgooerioelly s one of seid eelt of shaft memo il@ engaging said pair ofshaft meo'lbeis, selo'; elcily mounted members being move with seidoeting membei to eugule; positions relative to the axes of saol shaftmemleels, and resiliently actuated means suitably mounted and exertinge. thrust outwardly romropposite sides of seid floating 'member to urffesei@ floating 'eetially oem eositioi be s lieti/ing ooe/sting portions,rollel` Y. engaging e eo-ecting portion of eeeo. of seid shafts, e pairof spheioelly shaped mbers eaoli surrounding one o' said peil of fts, pa'ng materiel suitably mounted be spheicellgf shaped. .me oe j tions ofseid pair of slieits, asking meteiiels surrounding en e of said pair ofsli its, resilient pair of shaft i* embeis pfovidecl with eo-aet1og eenthe eo-aetiug portions of portions, oouieel tellers setvfeeo o one o1solo 'peo g 'ons of seid sla af fs willi portions for.n contacting t olseid conical rollers to meinte ooeotive positions, extension l on seidmeans and provided w surfaces, and means for to move s other, meaielseis and provided pheiicolly shaped ,bly attached to the flange powsuafeoes of said. fiemoei-S. "aiming said rolle-r me1u- In g, universaljoint 11g :matvilal suitably mounted lieoi sl it members jni'ovidee `stmentioned pair and said second i1* of spliericelly shaped membei's.

is, :roller members eugegi tions of said pair of shift ing ineens foi'seid rollei

